BioMass Woodchip Ltd, a biomass heating fuel supplier based near Preston in Lancashire, is a family-run business that has seen remarkable growth thanks to a boost in online visibility.
Founded in 2016 on a farm in Bickerstaffe, the company produces and delivers sustainable wood chips for biomass boilers, landscaping, and even animal bedding.
For years they relied on word-of-mouth and traditional networks – until they discovered the power of the internet. In this success story, we explore how BioMass Woodchip Ltd transformed its online presence, overcame challenges, and saw inquiries skyrocket after getting listed on Noticed UK.
Background
BioMass Woodchip Ltd began as a small operation passionate about renewable energy. John Hurst, the founder of the company, started by repurposing waste timber from his farm into wood chip fuel for local biomass heating systems.
The business grew steadily within the community, providing wood chips that help homes and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. They take pride in eco-friendly values and quality service – being BSL-registered and Woodsure-accredited as proof of their commitment to high standards.
However, despite a strong reputation locally, the company’s online footprint remained minimal for years. BioMass Woodchip Ltd had a basic website and a scattering of directory listings, but potential customers beyond their immediate circle often didn’t know they existed.
The Challenge
By early 2023, John knew the business was missing opportunities. “We realised that most people looking for services like ours weren’t finding us,” he says.
The team noticed that competitors with a better web presence were securing projects in areas like Preston and Chorley – areas BioMass Woodchip could serve, if only those customers knew about them.
In today’s digital age, an online presence is crucial: 96% of consumers use the internet to find local services , and nearly half of all Google searches have local intent. John admits they were late to the game online, and it was hurting their growth. The challenge was clear – improve visibility on the web or remain a local secret.
Another hurdle was credibility online. Without an engaging website or reviews, modern customers might hesitate to trust a supplier, even one as experienced as BioMass Woodchip. John’s small team had limited time and know-how for digital marketing. “We’re experts in biomass fuel, not in websites and SEO,” he recalls with a laugh.
The company needed a solution that would put them on the map (literally, in search results) and showcase their expertise and reliability to a broader audience. How could a hard-working SME break into the online scene and get noticed by the very clients searching for services it offers?
The Solution: Getting Noticed Online
In the spring of 2023, BioMass Woodchip Ltd decided to join Noticed UK – the local services platform that connects businesses with customers. “Noticed UK reached out at the perfect time,” John explains.
The company signed up for a Premium Provider listing on Noticed, a move that would prove transformative. The premium package meant the BioMass Woodchip team didn’t have to tackle digital marketing alone – Noticed built a professional website for them (biomasswoodchip.co.uk) and optimized their online profile to attract the right audience. Suddenly, BioMass Woodchip had a vibrant online storefront to match the quality of their product.
Noticed’s team worked closely with John to showcase what makes BioMass Woodchip special. They helped highlight the business’s unique selling points – such as sustainable sourcing and industry accreditations – right on the profile. High-quality content was added describing their services (from wood chip production and delivery to biomass boiler installations) in detail .
The new website was also packed with locally targeted keywords so that customers searching for terms like “biomass wood chips Preston” or “wood fuel Lancashire” would find BioMass Woodchip Ltd.
Importantly, all contact information was made consistent and visible across the web. (Maintaining accurate Name, Address, Phone details is no small thing – businesses with uniform info across listings receive 70% more calls on average .)
To summarize, here’s how BioMass Woodchip leveraged Noticed to turn things around:
Enhanced Online Listing:
Created a detailed BioMass Woodchip profile on Noticed UK, including service descriptions, location coverage, and clear contact information. Their listing is now a one-stop showcase for what they do best.
Premium Membership & Website:
Upgraded to a Premium Provider package, which unlocked a custom-built website and featured placement. The Noticed team designed a modern site for BioMass Woodchip Ltd, integrated with the directory listing – giving them a standalone web presence and boosting credibility.
Local SEO Optimisation:
Implemented local SEO strategies. The site content and Noticed listing were optimized with relevant keywords (e.g. biomass heating systems Preston, wood chip delivery North West), helping the business climb search engine rankings.
Visuals and Branding:
Uploaded an eye-catching company logo and gallery photos of their wood chips in use (such as playground ground cover and biomass boilers) to engage visitors. BioMass Woodchip’s brand identity became more recognizable online.
Customer Engagement:
Added clear calls-to-action (“Call us for a quote”) and made it easy for interested clients to reach out. John also began encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews on their Noticed profile. Those positive testimonials will further build trust for new online visitors (after all, over 90% of consumers check online reviews before visiting a business ).
With these steps, BioMass Woodchip’s digital transformation was underway. “The Noticed team basically handed us an online marketing department on a plate,” John says.
The website went live in June 2023, and the Noticed directory listing immediately started working behind the scenes to improve their visibility on Google. The big question remained: would these efforts actually bring in new business? John didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Results & Reflections: Q&A with the Owner
We sat down with John Hurst, founder of BioMass Woodchip Ltd, to discuss the impact of getting noticed online. Here are some highlights from our conversation, in John’s own words:
Q: What changes did you see after getting your business on Noticed and launching the new website?
A: Honestly, the difference was night and day. Within a couple of weeks, our phone starting ringing far more than before.
We’re now getting more inquiries in a week than we used to in a month. I’d say our inquiries have almost tripled since we joined Noticed. It’s not just calls either – we get a steady stream of emails through the website contact form from folks who found us online.
It was amazing to see, because before, virtually 0% of our new leads came from the internet, and now I’d estimate over half of our new customers find us via our online presence. For a small business like ours, that’s a game changer.
Q: Did the improved online visibility translate into real sales or just tire-kickers?
A: It absolutely translated into real sales. Many inquiries are turning into paying customers.
For example, one of our biggest new clients this summer came through a web search – a commercial greenhouse in Cheshire that needed a reliable wood chip supplier. They discovered us on Noticed, read about our services, and reached out.
We’ve since delivered multiple orders to them. We’re also getting calls from farther afield – areas we hadn’t served before. That’s all new revenue. I also noticed that having the Premium Provider badge and a professional site gives customers confidence.
A few have told me, “We saw your website and profile and felt you were a trusted, established company.” That trust factor helps close deals. So it’s not just more leads, it’s quality leads who are ready to buy.
Q: How do you feel about your decision to invest in an online profile now?
A: I only wish we’d done it sooner! For years we depended on word-of-mouth, which was great but limited. Now, we’ve tapped into a much larger audience.
It’s like we opened a new branch of the business, except it’s online and open 24/7. I used to be a bit skeptical about online marketing, to be frank. But seeing the results first-hand changed my mind.
We’re reaching people who would never have heard of us otherwise. And the return on investment is undeniable – the small fee for the Noticed premium listing and website has already paid for itself many times over in new business.
Plus, the process was easier than I expected. I could focus on running my business while Noticed handled the tech side.
Q: What advice would you give to other local businesses that are struggling to get leads?
A: My advice would be: don’t underestimate the internet. If you’re not online in this day and age, you’re invisible to a huge chunk of your potential customers. I was in that boat, and getting out of it has transformed my business.
So, get your business listed on platforms like Noticed, make sure your information is accurate, and showcase what you do best.
Also, ask your happy customers to leave reviews and feedback online – that social proof is powerful. Basically, embrace the tools out there. In our case, Noticed turned out to be the right tool at the right time.
It connected us with people actively looking for our service. To any other small business owner reading this success story: If we can do it, you can too! We’re proof that even a traditional farm-based business can thrive online with a little help.
John’s journey with BioMass Woodchip Ltd
John’s journey with BioMass Woodchip Ltd demonstrates how online visibility and a strong digital profile can catalyze growth for local businesses. By investing in an optimized website and leveraging the Noticed UK platform, a company rooted in a rural town quickly expanded its reach across an entire region.
It’s also a testament to the changing behavior of customers: when nearly 88% of smartphone users who search for a local business contact it within a day , you want to be sure your business is the one they find.
BioMass Woodchip is now capturing those opportunities—turning online searches into new inquiries, and inquiries into satisfied customers.
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